The Country Mice

Allysha Hurd Pottery

A couple of weekends ago we packed up our hands-on, home-made wares and meandered across the water to my friend Sherryl’s house. Sherryl and I go back a couple of decades to our newspaper days. I admired her greatly because in times of confrontation she displayed the backbone of my dreams.

Robyn Worcester

In the hours she’s not skiing, cycling, cooking, gardening or thinking hard on behalf of The People, Sherryl nurtures her creativity as a potter. Pottery is the perfect outlet for her strong arms and stalwart spirit because she can wallop the raw clay into meek submission and ultimately create an object that is both sturdy and fragile, revealing the earthy beauty within.

Sherryl Yeager Pottery

Annually Sherryl hosts her Muddy Pause pottery sale — the ‘pause’ denotes the gesture of goodwill in the 10 per cent of all sales that is donated to the Vancouver Food Bank.

Sherryl Yeager Pottery

By inviting a small selection of local artisans Sherryl varies up the offerings to the dozens of people who visit the sale.

Dairn Kwok Pottery

Homeboy, the Princess and I were invited to take a table at the Muddy Pause 5 this year, thus the hauling of boxes into the big city.

Country Mice Studios

H-boy and P were advised that of what they created and sold, 10 per cent went to the food bank, 45 per cent went to She Who Buys The Supplies, and 45 per cent went into their own kitty. Thus their contributions of soap, bath salts, lip balm and beeswax candles — all natural, all handmade!

Country Mice Studios

Combined with the generous tips they received for serenading with Christmas carols on violin and cello, they each pocketed $63. A happy take!

Country Mice Studios

I laid out an assortment of felted scarves — different styles, all hand-dyed, lots of silk and beautiful soft fleece — and was enormously gratified by the people who felt them, purchased them and then wore them out the door!

Country Mice Studio

Thanks to the great generosity of supporters of the local arts community, Muddy Pause 5 was able to make a sizeable donation to the Vancouver Food Bank.

And on a personal note, thank you to Sherryl for inviting me and my mice. A great lesson in entrepreneurship and social responsibility.